Wow, just one week ago I posted an article about my experience in Venice, and now look at this! Apparently it’s their 6th highest tide level in 150 years, with 70% of the floating city underwater. Click through to see these extraordinary pictures.

It may be known as the Floating City of love. But romance was cast aside today as gondolas were swapped for wellington boots and swimwear.

High tides and heavy rain flooded Venice’s dry streets, leaving tourist hotspots virtually deserted. Tourists chose to wade through the waters in boots, with one group donning swimwear to sit at a table in the iconic submerged St Mark’s Square.

One hardy couple even decided to go for a quick swim. Others had less enjoyable tasks, with some visitors being forced to wade through nearly waist-high waters carrying suitcases on their shoulders.

Heavy rains and seas whipped up by strong winds brought the lagoon city’s high tide mark to its sixth-highest level since records began being kept 150 years ago in 1872.

The water levels rose to critical levels overnight. It was reported that 70per cent of central Venice was under water today as the high tide mark reached 59.06inches.

Those who decided to take a break from the flooded streets were captured in wellington boots standing in water in coffee shops.

Makeshift wooden walkways had to be used to cross areas of St Mark’s square, with transportation proving difficult for residents.

Italian news reports said the same weather system causing chaos in Venice was wreaking havoc elsewhere in north and central Italy, with some 200 people evacuated from their homes in hard-hit Tuscany.

Flooding is common in the city at this time of year. Moveable barriers that would rise from the sea bed to protect Venice from high tides have been in the works for years but will not be operational before 2014.

I have experienced this in Venice a few years ago, absolutely crazy. There were dead pigeons floating across St Mark’s Square, gondolas could not go anywhere because the water was too high under the bridges

http://twitter.com/blahsum James Francis

How clean was the water? I’m looking at the main photo on this post and thinking: “Is it smart to wallow in water that has just absorbed all the crap in and around the city?” Your mention of dead pigeons just makes me think it’s a good idea to stay out!

Fran69

The water was not clean at all, I would not swim or sit in it. There are 1000′s of pigeons on that square, that is a shitload of pigeon poo mixed into that water. sis man